Fantasy Hockey: Weekend Streaming Targets – Week 22
Our Weekend Streamers series aims to help you steal your matchup by getting the most value possible out of the limited transactions in your fantasy league. Every Friday morning, we will break down the teams and skaters with the most streamer-friendly schedules over the weekend. We will also look at the best spot starts in goal each weekend, highlighting the widely-available goaltenders that could provide the boost and edge you need to win your matchup.
This weekend features two games on Friday, 14 on Saturday, and seven on Sunday, so as per usual, we are going to target the skaters playing on those two quieter nights. We have three teams to dig through this week, so let’s get into it. Happy streaming!
Anaheim Ducks–@ WPG (Fri), @ STL (Sun)
Troy Terry (RW) – 38% owned
Terry has struggled since returning from an upper-body injury with just one assist in his last six games, but is beginning to look like himself again of late. He’s piled up eight shots on goal in the last three games, while skating on the Ducks’ second line and first power-play unit. I would expect him to get back to his usual production sooner than later, though this weekend’s difficult matchup spread does limit his upside.
Mason McTavish (C/LW) – 38% owned
McTavish has cooled off after a hot stretch where he put up four goals and five assists in eight games. Like Terry, he has struggled since returning from a recent injury, going pointless in his last four games. I still like betting on the talent and opportunity here though, as McTavish continues to see heavy minutes in all of the best situations.
Alex Killorn (LW/RW) – 21% owned
Killorn was featured in last weekend’s streaming post and came through for us in a big way, pocketing a pair of goals. His shot volume has died down a bit of late, but he is still on that first line with McTavish as well as the top power-play unit. As I said before, the matchup spread is far from ideal, but Killorn could be a cheap source of goals if you’re desperate for some help this weekend, having scored four times in his last six games.
Ryan Strome (LW/RW) – 11% owned
Like Killorn, Strome was well worth a pickup after being featured as a streaming target last weekend, picking up two goals and an assist, but I am not quite as high on him this weekend. The Ducks are healthier which is limiting him to a role on the second power-play unit, and he was just dropped to the team’s third line at 5v5 ahead of Thursday’s game in Minnesota. He is still a viable option in deeper leagues, but in shallower formats I would cash out on Strome while you are ahead and look elsewhere this weekend.
Chicago Blackhawks–vs. LAK (Fri), vs. SJS (Sun)
Nick Foligno (LW) – 13% owned
Normally, Chicago would be a hard pass for me, but the matchup with the Sharks on Sunday has caught my interest. Foligno is especially intruiging. He is fresh off a four assist night against the Ducks on Tuesday, showing he can do a nice little job against some inferior teams. His shot volume has been fantastic of late, racking up 19 shots on goal in his last five games. He is skating alongside Connor Bedard at 5v5 and on the first power-play unit, averaging almost 19 minutes a night over that five-game stretch. Foligno is well worth the add this weekend considering that strong run of form and the enticing matchup against the Sharks on Sunday.
Philipp Kurashev (C) 6% owned
Kurashev is the other constant on that top line with Foligno and Bedard, and sees a lot of minutes on the power-play with the two of them as well. He is certainly more of a pass-first player, and is much more likely to help you out with assists rather than goals this weekend, but he is on a nice run of late and quietly having a very productive season. He has 13 goals and 27 assists in 59 games this year, including four goals and four assists in his last six games. That top line has been on a heater of late and could be the difference in your matchup when they host the Sharks on Sunday.
Winnipeg Jets–vs. ANA (Fri), @ CBJ (Sun)
Sean Monahan (C) 37% owned
As you might expect, many of the Jets main contributors are well above the ownership threshold to make it into this post, but Monahan is still available in over 60% of leagues. His production has trailed off of late, but the usage is still worth betting on, and you would have a hard time drawing up a more enticing weekend matchup spread than the Ducks and Blue Jackets. I’m happy to role the dice on him this weekend despite a lack of shot volume and hard production of late. He continues to see a lot of minutes on Winnipeg’s second line and first power-play unit, and he got an obvious boost in upside at 5v5 with the arrival of his new line-mate, Tyler Toffoli.
Alex Iafallo (LW/RW) – 5% owned
Despite his ice-time being limited, Iafallo is still worthy of a punt play in deeper leagues this weekend. He is the third member of the Jets’ second line alongside Monahan and Toffoli, and has scored in each of Toffoli’s first two games as a Jet. His power-play time is very limited right now so he’s got to make it count at 5v5, which he is more than capable of considering his new-found line-mates and the ideal matchup spread against the Ducks and Jackets.
Goaltenders
With 14 games on Saturday and 7 on Sunday, there will be plenty of backup goaltenders sliding between the pipes on the last day of the Fantasy week, but there are two particular names that you may want to stash ahead of time this weekend.
Alex Nedeljkovic – 8% owned
Nedeljkovic got off to a great start to his season backing up Tristan Jarry, but has struggled of late, losing his last three starts and posting just an .820 SV% across his last four appearances. Luckily for him, he looks to be in a great spot to bounce back on Sunday. The Penguins are facing the Rangers at home on Saturday before hosting the struggling Red Wings on Sunday. Jarry will almost certainly face New York, which would leave the sputtering Wings for Nedeljkovic. The Wings are on some kind of slide right now, losing seven in a row. The Pens will be undoubtedly be favoured in that game, and it’s a great spot for Nedeljkovic to get back in the win column, though it obviously comes with some risk considering his struggles of late.
Joel Hofer – 7% owned
Hofer is the name I prefer in goal this weekend and would certainly check on first. The Blues are facing the Wild Saturday before hosting the Ducks on Sunday, who yes, as I highlighted before, have some potential pieces up front that could do some damage this weekend, but they also have a 23-40-3 record on the year and have just a single win in their last six games. Hofer has performed well when he has gotten the call this year, posting a .913 SV% across 24 appearances, and looked great against the Bruins on Monday. He allowed just a single goal on 37 shots enroute to a 5-1 victory over one of the best teams in the league. I would stash him as soon as possible if you are looking to steal some goalie categories or make a late push in your points league this weekend.